Are you a researcher with a background in social psychology (or related areas) and interested in new approaches to research on social coordination and trust capabilities? Join our team!

Your job
As part of the Gravitation project Adapt!, we are looking for a postdoc researcher who will conduct and facilitate research on social coordination and trust capabilities.

For crisis responses to be successful, people, groups of people, and societal institutions need to coordinate their actions in ways that promote (often longer-term) collective interests. Crises such as violent extremism, pandemics, and natural disasters impact social coordination capabilities. The work package that you will coordinate (together with Kees van den Bos, Paul van Lange, Ellen Giebels, and others) examines what people, groups of people, and societal institutions can do to respond in adaptive ways to increase their social coordination capabilities.

Serving a pivotal role in the work package, you will conduct and coordinate research on how meaningful social and societal relations, providing people with a sense of direction when they are navigating through various crises. This includes issues of social cohesion and how people form and restore trust judgments.

You will have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• coordinating and conducting research within the period of appointment;
• publishing and supervising publishing peer-reviewed journal articles and co-editing a volume;
• helping with the organisation of events, workshop, and conferences;
• participating in project meetings, and closely collaborate with the other members of the research team;
• assisting with knowledge dissemination and other activities of Adapt!;
• presenting research results at national and international workshops and conferences.

• You have completed a PhD in social psychology (or another discipline relevant for Adapt!, such as history, governance, or philosophy) or a PhD manuscript formally approved by supervisors.
• You have a truly interdisciplinary mentality, evidenced by earlier experience with projects involving other disciplines, and an eager willingness to work with other work packages in the Adapt! programme.
• You have expertise in crises related to radicalisation/terrorism, climate change, and/or pandemics.
• You have expertise in conducting experimental research, survey research, interviews, and other methods relevant for Adapt! (such as archival studies).
• You are fluent in both Dutch and English.
• You are able to work independently and to write academic publications and publications aimed at wider dissemination of research.
• You have team spirit and experience working with others.
• You have strong interpersonal, analytical and organisational skills.

We offer:

• a position for one year, with the possibility to extend for three years starting January 2025;
• a working week of 32-38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,345 and €6,148 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 or 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

Adapt! is a team of researchers from different universities. Our goal? Building knowledge and expertise to help prepare societies for future crises. The open society is increasingly threatened by crises such as pandemics, terrorism, floods, and earthquakes. The future of the open society depends on its adaptability to prepare for future crises. Adapt! investigates the role of cultural, social, and governmental capabilities of a society in building an effective and legitimate response to crises. Together with citizens and frontline professionals, the Adapt! consortium will translate research findings into tools and strategies that help societies navigate through crises.

For more information, please contact Kees van den Bos at k.vandenbos@uu.nl.

Please note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. Our International Service Desk (ISD) can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.